Iron holder



March 27, 1962 G. s. SORLIE 3,027,129

IRON HOLDER v Filed Jan. 22, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 George S. .Sor/ie I N VEN TOR.

BY m, 12m

March 27, 1962 G. s. SORLIE 3,027,129

IRON HOLDER Filed Jan. 22, 1960 2 SheetsSheet 2 George .S. Sod/29 INVENTOR.

Mm BY e 3% 3,927,129 Patented Mar... .27, 19fi2 3,027,129 7 IRON HOLDER George S. Sol-lie, 1133 N. 28th, Billings, Mont. Filed Jan. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 4,083

12-Clairns. (CI. 248-'--117.7)

This inventionrelates to a device for securing hand irons, as steam or travelling irons,-in an uprightposition;

The manufacturers of irons recommend that the iron befmaintained in'an upright position wh en it is placed in a' state of rest; When theiron'is in an upright position, it isresting upon its heel. The manufacturers advise maintaining the iron in' an upright position for several reasons. Inasmuch asthe sole plate is easily scratched by metals, buttons, etc.-, it is preferablethat the plate should not be placed upon any surface or-in position within any holder which will subject the sole plate to direct contact with metal or the material which is harder than the plate.- Also, by maintaining the iron in an upright position, heat is permitted to escape from the iron sole plate away from the handleportion.

When the iron is placed upon its heel, in rest position, the iron stability with respect to the surface of the ironing board upon which it is placed, becomes precarious inasmuch as a slight jar on the ironing board or an accidental inadvertent pull on the cord will tip the iron over, perhaps causing considerable damage or injury. If, the iron falls onto the ironing board, the sole plate may rest directly on the ironing board and accordinglycreate a fire hazard. Inasmuch as the housewife is aware of these dangers, she usually will place the iron on a central position on the ironing board to assure safety. However, this of course reduces the amount of working space on the ironing board. In view of this, it is preferable to provide a holder for the purpose of retaining an iron in an upright position such that it will not fall from the ironing board when it is jarred. Moreover, it is an object of this invention to provide an iron holder which may be secured to the ironing board and so hold the iron in an upright and stable position.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel iron holder which is simple in construction and accordingly inexpensive to manufacture and distribute. Still further, the iron holder takesup little space when being used or when in storage. Also, the iron holder construction cannot damage the iron inasmuch as particular care has been taken to design a holder which engages the iron at a minimum of points.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the iron holder;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the iron holder illustrating it secured to the underside of an ironing board;

FIGURE 3 isan elevational side view of the iron holder showing how a conventional iron may be retained in a rest position;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the iron holder illustrating how an iron may be retained in an inclined position;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially along the plane 55 of FIGURE 1 illustrating an insulative covering material secured to a portion of the iron holder.

The iron holder is generally designated by the numeral and includes principally only two parts; a retainer 12 and a clip 14. The clip 14 is the part of the device which is affixed to the ironing board and which may be removed therefrom. The retainer 12 restrains and confines the iron. The clip 14 is constructed principally of spring steel, while the retainer 12 may be made of spring steel or mild steel. The engaging plate 16 forming part of the retainer 12 is preferably made of sheet metal.

Reference is particularly drawn to FIGURE 1. The retainer 12 includes a resilient wire or rod 18 defining a first leg.2i).and.'a second leg 22. The legs 2%} and 22am terminally bent toward each other at 24 and 2s and secured'to the engaging plate 16. Moreover, the legs 2% and 222 are secured to the sides of the engaging plate 16 atz28 and 30. Remote from the engaging plate 16, the rod 18 defines a pair of opposed tongue sections 32 and 34Twhich extend,toward-eachother. Flared outwardly ffomseachiofihetongue sections 32 and 3 1 are lower rails 36 and 33:respectively of an arcuate cradle generally designated by numeral 4%; Terminally formed on the arcuatercradledtlz'are a pairofears generally designated by 42 and 44. The ear 42 includes an uppershorter rail 46 an'd a lower'longerraildd bridged by an arcuate sectionStl; Likewise, the: ear 4 4 includes a shorter upper rail"52 andta longer lower rail'54 bridged by an arcuate sectionSti. The upper rails d and 52 are connected by an upper rail '58 of the arcuatecradle dil.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 3 and 4 wherein a conventional iron 6tl=is illustrated defining a sole plate 62 and a heel 64. The iron 6t) may bear against the retainer 12 with the upper rail 58 of the arcuate cradle 40 engaging the sides of the sole plate 62 and not the flat of the sole plate, Generally, the edge of the sole plate or iron is slightly beveled or rounded and accordingly the arcuate cradle conforms thereto. Inasmuch as the lower rails 54- and 48 are longer than the upper rails 52 and 16, the sole plate 62 does not engage the lower rails 38 and 3d of the arcuate cradle 41!; Although the ears 4 2 and 44 do not engage the iron 60, they are placed near enough to the sur face of the sides of the iron so that the iron will not be able to be removed by merely twisting or tipping the iron outwardly from the confines of the retainer 12. As noted in FIGURES 3 and 4, the ears &2 and i4 are formed at an obtuse angle relative to the legs 2% and 22 so as to enable the ears to be horizontally disposed when the iron is in the rest position illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The clip 14 includes a single rod "iii forming a pair of prongs 72 and 74 terminating in downturned ends 76 and 7 8. The prongs 72 and 74 each terminate in loops 3t and 82 which effectively turn the rod 70, 180 so as to form a circular section 84' which is superposed with respect to the prongs 72 and 74. Indentures 36 and 88 are formed between the loops 89 and 82 and the circular section 84.

Openings 9i) and 92 are formed by the engaging plate and the terminal portion 24 and 26 of the legs 20 and 22 of the retainer 12. The portions of the clip 14 at the indentures 86 and 88 are received respectively in the openings 9i) and 92.

In normal use, the ironing board 94 is fitted between the spring steel of the circular section 84 of the clip 14 and the prongs 72 and 74. The loops and 82 extend around the edge of the ironing board 94. The retainer 12'may be initially inclined as shown in FIGURE 4 for facilitating the insertion of the iron Gil into the retainer 12 between the ears 44 and 42 against the upper rail 58 of the arcuate cradle 40. The heel 64 of the iron 60 then rests on the ironing board 94. It will be appreciated that the pivotal movement of the retainer 12 relativeto the clip 14 is limited inasmuch as the legs 20 and 22 are received in the indentures 38 and 86 respectively of the clip 14. After receiving the iron 60 in the retainer 12 as indicated in FIGURE 4, the retainer 12 may be tipped to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 in order that the iron 16 may be maintained in a vertical a position. Generally, an iron handle is provided with a rear projection 96 which facilitates the support along with the iron heel 64 on the ironing board 94.

Attention is called to FIGURE wherein it is to be noted that insulative coating material as of silicon or Teflon 93 may be utilized over the cradle 40.

In order to retain the iron holder beneath the ironing board 94, the retainer 12 may be moved to the position indicated in FIGURE 2; that is, it may be moved relative to the clip 14 from the position adjacent the indentures 86 and 38 around the loops St) and 82 to the prongs 72 and 74. Then, the tongue sections 32 and 34 may be accommodated between the prongs 74 and 72 respectively and the ironing board 94 to compactly secure the entire iron holder on the ironing board 94. The erminal portions 76 and 78 of the prongs 74 and 72 pass between the cradle 40 and the ironing board 94.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that applicant has provided a novel iron holder for the purpose of conveniently and preferably retaining an iron on the top of an ironing board and also has provided a holder which may be conveniently secured to the ironing board for storage purposes.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An iron holder including a retainer and a clip, each or said retainer and clip including a resilient rod, said retainer rod bent so as to encompass and retain an iron, said clip rod bent so as to define board gripping means, said retainer and said clip pivotally secured together with said retainer being movable relative to said clip between a collapsed position lying in a plane closely adjacent and overlying the plane in which said clip is disposed and an extended position disposed at an angle relative to the plane containing said clip and including coacting means for releasably limiting pivotal movement of said retainer relative to said clip between two extended limit positions.

2. An iron holder including a retainer and a clip, each each of said retainer and clip including a resilient rod, said retainer rod bent so as to encompass and retain an iron, said clip rod bent so as to define board gripping means, said retainer and said clip pivotally secured together with said retainer being movable relative to said clip between a collapsed position lying in a plane closely adjacent and overlying the plane in which said clip is disposed and an extended position disposed at an angle relative to the plane containing said clip and including coacting means for releasably limiting pivotal movement of said retainer relative to said clip between two extended limit positions, said rods being constructed of spring steel with that portion of the retainer engageable with an iron having an insulative coating thereon.

3. An iron holder including a retainer and a clip, each of said retainer and clip including a resilient rod, said retainer rod defining an arcuate cradle portion having an ear angularly extending from each terminal thereof, legs extending from said ears, an engaging plate secured to and between said legs, said clip rod defining a pair of parallel prongs and a circular rod section connecting said prongs, said prongs and said circular section being superposed, said engaging plate and said legs defining a pair of openings therebetween, said prongs extending through said openings and bearing outwardly against said legs.

4. An iron holder including a retainer and a clip, each of said retainer and clip including a resilient rod, said retainer rod defining an arcuate cradle portion having an ear angularly extending from each terminal thereof, legs extending from said ears, an engaging plate secured to and between said legs, said clip rod defining a pair of parallel prongs and a circular rod section connecting said prongs, said prongs and said circular section being superposed, said engaging plate and said legs defining a pair of openings therebetween, said prongs extending through said openings and bearing outwardly against said legs, and opposed indentures. defined in said clip rod be tween said circular section and said prongs.

5. An iron holder including a retainer and a clip, each of said retainer and clip including a resilient rod, said retainer rod defining an arcuate cradle portion having an ear angularly extending from each terminal thereof, legs extending from said ears, an engaging plate secured to and between said legs, said clip rod defining a pair of parallel prongs and a circular rod section connecting said prongs, said prongs and said circular section being superposed, said engaging plate and said legs defining a pair of openings therebetween, said prongs extending through said openings and bearing outwardly against said legs, said arcuate cradle portion and said cars including upper and lower rails.

6. An iron holder including a retainer and a clip, each of said retainer and clip including a resilient rod, said retainer rod defining an arcuate cradle portion having an ear angularly extending from each terminal thereof, legs extending from said ears, an engaging plate secured to and between said legs, said clip rod defining a pair of parallel prongs and a circular rod section connecting said prongs, said prongs and said circular section being superposed, said engaging plate and said legs defining a pair of openings therebetween, said prongs extending through said openings and bearing outwardly against said legs, said openings being spaced, said spacing defined between said openings being less than the normal spacing between said prongs.

7. An iron holder including a retainer and a clip, each of said retainer and clip including a resilient rod, said retainer rod defining an arcuate cradle portion having an ear angularly extending from each terminal thereof, legs extending from said ears, an engaging plate secured to and between said legs, said clip rod defining a pair of parallel prongs and a circular rod section connection said prongs, said prongs and said circular section being superposed, said engaging plate and said legs defining a pair of openings therebetween, said prongs extending through said openings and bearing outwardly against said legs, said openings being spaced, said spacing defined between said openings being less than the normal spacing between said prongs, and opposed indentures defined in said clip rod between said circular section and said prongs.

8. An iron holder including a retainer and a clip, each of said retainer and clip including a resilient rod, said retainer rod defining an arcuate cradle portion having an ear angularly extending from each terminal thereof, legs extending from said ears, an engaging plate secured to and between said legs, said clip rod defining a pair of parallel prongs and a circular rod section connecting said prongs, said prongs and said circular section being superposed, said engaging plate and said legs defining a pair of openings therebetween, said prongs extending through said openings and bearing outwardly against said legs, said openings being spaced, said spacing defined between said openings being less than the normal spacing between said prongs, and opposed indentures defined in said clip rod. between said circular section and said prongs, said openings being elongated and having a width greater than the depth of said indentures.

9. An iron holder including a retainer and a clip, each of said retainer and clip including a resilient rod, said retainer rod defining an arcuate cradle portion having an ear angularly extending from each terminal thereof, legs extending from said ears, an engaging plate secured to and between said legs, said clip rod defining a pair of parallel prongs and a circular rod section connecting said prongs, said prongs and said circular section being superposed, said engaging plate and said legs defining a pair of openings therebetween, said prongs extending through said openings and bearing outwardly against said legs, tongue sections defined between each of said legs and said ears, said tongue sections being opposed and extending toward each other sufiiciently so the distance defined therebetween is less than the distance between said prongs.

10. An iron holder including a retainer comprising a resilient rod bent to form an arcuate cradle portion having an ear angularly extending from each terminal thereof, legs extending from said ears, an engaging plate secured to and between said legs, and means pivotally secured to the ends of said legs remote from said ears for limited pivotal movement and for clamping said iron holder to an ironing board.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said rod is constructed of spring steel, a portion of said rod having an insulative coating thereon.

12. The combination of claim 1 including means carried by said clip engageable With a portion of said retainer when in the collapsed position for releasably retaining said retainer in that position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,048,458 McLhinney July 21, 1936 2,444,585 Tubiolo July 6, 1948 2,504,575 Parker Apr. 18, 1950 2,528,846 Sitnick .d Nov. 7, 195i) 

